A Writer's Take on Global and National Issues with Background Information and Humor As Needed

Killing Bin Laden Has Made Him a Martyr, Benefitted Al Qaeda Recruiting and Will Bring More Violence

Posted on May 7, 2011

For SamHenry, the President’s action in taking out Bin Laden has been perhaps the worst decision of his presidency. Our special forces entered a country with which we were not at war under unclear circumstances and killed a Muslim icon, Osama Bin Laden. Inasmuch as Bin Laden swore he would never be taken alive, the only thing to justify his shooting was fear the area was booby trapped. It was never planned to take him alive.

Now Muslims worldwide have taken to the streets to protest and pray for Bin Laden. Where does this leave US policy in the Middle East? Can we be trusted? What about in Indonesia? We murdered a man before honoring our Constitution and placing him in the justice system for which we have gone to war to protect. This act against this man will not just go away. This is just not simply a war against terror; this is a war for the soul of America.

And now we have the unbelievable sight of Muslims storming the US Embassy in London yelling death to America and the west. Muslims are living in the west and they are being allowed to try to kill it from within calling for jihad.

Bin Laden’s forces entered a country with which they were at war and dropped the twin towers. We did not do that. Sanctuary in a country does not necessarily give you legal grounds to go in to extract a criminal and murder him. This is the way Islam and its sympathizers will view it. India was worried that Pakistan would think they were invading and begin a war on the sub-continent.

Obama’s actions have rendered westerners around the world open to attack. He never saw that the revenge would be against all westerners. He did not think beyond our borders. Our military served this up as a scenario but at whose request? As a people, we need to get to the bottom of this. Outside UN sanctions and international law, we need to determine for ourselves the true reach of the Office of the President. Since Obama has occupied it, he has enhanced powers to a point that another constitutional convention may be needed.

Did Obama honestly believe he was doing the west a favor or was this his last attempt to bring it down? SamHenry would never say this against another President but this one cries for further scrutiny and investigation. He has been more a danger to us than Bin Laden in both his domestic and foreign policies. And sadly, SamHenry voted for him. Read the article below about events in London today:

Violent clashes broke out around the world today as thousands of supporters of Osama bin Laden took to the streets to protest at the Al-Qaeda leader’s death.

While many protests took place across the Muslim world, the most extraordinary took place in London, where hundreds of supporters gathered at the U.S. embassy to stage a mock ‘funeral service’ for the slain terror leader.

U.N. human rights investigators called on the United States on Friday to disclose the full facts surrounding the killing of Osama bin Laden, in particular whether there had been any plan to capture him.

Christof Heyns, U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and Martin Scheinin, special rapporteur on protecting human rights while countering terrorism, said that in certain exceptional cases, deadly force may be used in “operations against terrorists.”

“However, the norm should be that terrorists be dealt with as criminals, through legal processes of arrest, trial and judicially-decided punishment,” the independent experts said in a joint statement.

“In respect of the recent use of deadly force against Osama bin Laden, the United States of America should disclose the supporting facts to allow an assessment in terms of international human rights law standards,” they said.

After reading your post Sam … I paused … I thought … And could only come up with just a one word response … BULLSHIT !!! …

The Navy Seals ‘ murdered ‘ no one … They EXTERMINATED a parasite on the global society that no ‘ goody two shoes ‘ could ever ‘ cure ‘ …

Time and money is wasted on ‘ judicial ‘ efforts to bring these types of animals to so called ‘ justice ‘…

Inasmuch as someone has already taken his place … Instead of spouting off against a political party you obviously have a dislike for in your own country … You should be thankful that an animal such as Osama is now food for the creatures of the sea …

It could have been Bush … It could have been Perot … It could have been ANY president !!! ..

Sorry Morb but I am a strict constitutionalist. Anyone can murder another. Even the UN wants more information about the entire thing. Bullshit should not be an adjective assigned a dissenting viewpoint.

Along strictly constitutional lines, you are correct, we are not supposed to be able to assassinate indiviuals and I hope this does not set a precedent. However, Bin Laden was, by his own admission, the mastermind of the worst terror act (act of war–however you or the Muslims views 9/11) ever perpetrated so I liken Bin Laden’s murder to the Jews hunting down the Nazi war criminals following WWII. The world is a better place without him. The fact that more evil is springing up in the aftermath just goes to show how far and wide Bin Laden’s reach truly was.

I do take issue with this phrase in your post:” Bin Laden’s forces entered a country with which they were at war and dropped the twin towers. We did not do that. ”
You’re giving the Muslim terroristss a mighty big pass. As they don’t have a government from which to declare war, as terrorist organizations, they can “declare war” on any nation, region or groups of people they desire. And they have. Which according to you gives them the “right” to enter those regions, nations or confront those peoples with acts of terrorism?

No, SamHenry, we maybe didn’t play 100% by the rules this time. But when confronting an enemy that plays (or rather kills) with no regard for moral authority, much less rules of engagement, sometimes you have to play dirty to win.

i’m a bit perplexed by it myself because I am working through the issues here. I am not giving al Qaeda a pass but they did declare war on us when they blasted the Cole and hit the twin towers a couple of times before 911. These Terrorists don’t have “rules” – but does that give us the right not to have them? The UN is after us for more information about the operation. We tracked down Nazis after the war but we tried and convicted them I believe. I really believe Obama did the wrong thing in killing Bin Laden and I stand behind that. Do I think he was a good man – of course not. But I would expect terrorist behavior by Bin Laden; not by the US.

I am glad you had the fortitude to state your views. That is what these posts are for. I respect well-thought through dissent and as I have said, I am working through these things myself and your comments have helped me clarify what I meant and I will edit the post accordingly.

I apologize for my choice of words Sam … But your post got me a tad worked up ! … FBTW articulated my thoughts much clearer … Basically stating that how does one ‘ play by the rules ‘ against an enemy that does not ? …

Is ‘ blasting ‘ the USS Cole the ‘ proper ‘ way of declaring war against a nation ? … Therefore it justifies slitting the civilian throats of the attendants and pilots of planes ? … Flying said planes into buildings and killing thousands more ? …

The depth of Bin Laden’s hatred toward the west was not something to be dealt with within our own social conscience … He and others like him require the same , quick , calculated extermination … Their mindset voids the benefit of our so called moral supremacy … They are ‘ broken ‘ human beings that can’t be fixed ! …

Again , I apologize for my earlier choice of words ( or word , in this case )

Rob and Morb – I so appreciate your frank views here. That is the purpose of a post – to get all sides out. Very often I present a side I may or may not totally believe in just to help me and others make up their minds through conversation not action.

There is a point for killing him in the fact that the Arab world respects strength and we have not shown it in recent years. On the other hand, I hate to begin to use my enemy’s tactics. That changes our character and as in the case of individuals, no one can force you to do that. That is the ideal.

Sirhan Sirhan is rotting in jail for having killed Bobby Kennedy and he was from where – Lebanon?

I have to say I am glad bin Laden is dead. As has already been said he gave up his right to justice long ago. Fact is we have assassinated figures throughout the world more than once as have many other nations. Sometimes I believe it to be necessary. Yes it is an ugly thing but so if life often. As for the radical Muslims anything is a rally point for them if it means expressing their hate for America. It does not take much to inflame them. We need to deal more big blows to these radicals until they get our point that we are not going to be messed with or terrorized. Sadly, these people do not understand talk. They have no desire to talk. They only wish us dead. We are not dealing with rational people when it comes to these radicals. One thing they understand is violence so that is what must be used against them. They respect strength and deplore weakness. Talk is considered weakness in their minds.

Ben Laden alive was a hero to the radical Muslims. Dead he is now a martyr. So which is worse? If we had taken him alive and put him on trial there would have been no end to the outrage from these radicals and I’m sure we’d be bombarded with the “Free bin Laden” routine. Such a trial would have become a big circus sideshow for the whole world.

Justice was served by killing him IMO. Now it is time for America to move on.

And how much money has been spent on Sirhan , Olsen , et al , keeping them alive in prison ?! … Hats off to Jack Ruby … Saved your country millions in housing and feeding the patsy Lee Harvey Oswald … THAT was an ‘ assassination ‘ … Bin Laden was ‘ exterminated ‘ … Two completely different things …

High price ?! … Are you referring to the amount of money that the political gamers pilfer from the tax payers ? … Myself , I have principals … I KNOW when an individual is not worthy of the same rights and freedoms that decent people have fought hard for in a diplomatic and , at times , brutal fashion …

The form of government you have , even more so than mine , plays the games with these countries because there is money to be had and that in turn spawns the Bin Laden’s of the world …

Again , I do not lose a wink of sleep over the death of an individual that hasn’t had a ‘ right ‘ to be breathing the air of this planet for the past 30 odd years until his rightful death …